History of the Seventeenth Virginia Infantry C. S. A. By Kelly, Piet & Co. 1870 312 pages, illustrated, searchable ******************************** Requires Adobe Reader 7.0 or higher to View (or MAC Preview Ver. 3)************************************************************* $9.99 + $1.99 shipping and handling http://cgi.ebay.com/Seventeenth-Virginia-Infantry-History_W0QQitemZ130376717957QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1e5b0ed685 The 17th Virginia Infantry was organized at Manassas Junction in June 10, 1861. It was composed of ten companies, many of which began as prewar volunteer militias. The volunteers were from Alexandria, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, and Warren Counties.The core of these volunteers were four companies organized on February 18, 1861 as a volunteer militia battalion. The Mount Vernon Guard, Alexandria Riflemen, Old Dominion Rifles, and the Alexandria Artillery were attached to the 175th Regiment (Alexandria County), Virginia Militia. On April 2, the General Assembly passed an act authorizing a battalion be raised in the city of Alexandria with three companies of infantry and one of artillery. On April 4, Captain Montgomery Dent Corse, of the Old Dominion Rifles was unanimously elected to command the battalion as a Major. The oldest company, the Mount Vernon Guard, was organized on June 21, 1842, but always observed July 4 as their anniversary. The first time they probably appeared in uniform was in October 1842 when the passed in review before President Tyler. The Alexandria Riflemen were organized on March 10, 1856. Originally choosing the name "Alexandria Sharp Shooters", they quickly reconvened their meeting when some realized how the initials would look painted on the back of their knapsacks. The change of name to "Alexandria Riflemen" was unanimous. They were organized, with the Mount Vernon Guard, into a volunteer battalion under the command of Major Turner Wade Ashby. Ashby had been a lieutenant in Capt. Corse's company during the Mexican War. The Old Dominion Rifles was organized on December 6, 1860. Organization was complete by January 7, 1861 with the election of Corse as captain and Arthur Herbert as lieutenant. The Alexandria Artillery was formed in 1850 as the Mechanical Artillery. The new name was adopted in 1856. The battalion went on active duty soon after the Ordinance of Secession was passed on May 23. Two companies of Irish citizens of Alexandria were added to the battalion on April 25, 1861--an artillery company, the Irish Volunteers, and a light infantry company, the Emmett Guards. Two Fairfax County cavalry companies joined the battalion, as well--the Chesterfield Troop and the Fairfax Cavalry, known also as the Washington Home Guard.